So you have a new baby on the way, and you’re excited. From the moments leading up to birth to the first month of your little one’s life, here are a few things you can expect when welcoming a new baby in 2023.
What To Do Before Giving Birth
Before your baby arrives, you’ll want to take care of a few things. You never know if your little one will make an early entrance, so it’s wise to take care of these things about a month before your scheduled delivery date.
Prepare Frozen Meals
Managing your time after the baby is born can be a huge learning curve. Frozen meals can make this transition much more manageable and ensure you get the nutrition you need to recover from childbirth. In the months leading up to your delivery date, prepare a couple of weeks’ worth of frozen dinners for you and your family.
Pack a Hospital Bag
When you head to the hospital, there are a few essential comfort items you’ll want to have with you. Pack a hospital bag to ensure you have what you want and need when your baby is ready to enter the world. A few things to consider packing in your hospital bag include:
- Change of clothing
- Slippers
- Lip balm
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Floss
You may also want to pack gum and other hygiene essentials to ensure you’re comfortable at the hospital.
Having Your Home Baby Ready
Before you bring your new family member home, you’ll want to ensure your house is ready. Here are a few ways to make your home baby ready.
- Deep-clean your home, including vacuuming and mopping the floors
- Set up Baby’s crib or bassinet
- Disconnect your doorbell and leave a sign on your door asking guests to only knock during certain hours of the day
- Sterilize bottles so they’re ready to go
- Purchase formula if you don’t plan to breastfeed your baby
- Make room in your fridge for breastmilk or baby formula
- Launder your baby’s clothing so it’s clean and ready for use
- Install an infant car seat in your car
These basic preparatory steps will help you feel better prepared for the day when your baby arrives.
Getting Through the First Week
The first week of your baby’s life will be busy. Your baby will want to eat every 3-4 hours and have regular dirty diapers. Newborn babies can’t sleep through the night, but be patient and understand it’s just a phase. You’ll get more sleep later on as your baby begins to sleep longer hours.
Keeping Your Baby Healthy
It’s vital to keep your baby healthy. Remember that it takes two to three months for a baby’s immune system to develop. Before that, they’re very susceptible to contagions.
You can also purchase a baby care kit to help your little one through the first delicate weeks of life. A Wellements Oh Baby! Bundle contains all the essentials to keep your baby healthy, including gripe water, probiotic drops, vitamin D drops, and more.
What To Expect in the First Month
Your baby will eat, sleep, and soil diapers through the first month. Your baby will also grow significantly in the first month and begin responding to external stimuli. Some babies will even be able to smile in response to seeing you smile! You can prepare your baby for a healthy and joyful life with proper love and care.
Sources:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-your-newborn-babys-immune-system-strong-enough/
https://healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/First-Month-Physical-Appearance-and-Growth.aspx